KISANGANI MEETING: POSITIVE MOVEMENT ON THE PART OF FDLR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000463 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS KPKO CG RW SUBJECT: KISANGANI MEETING: POSITIVE MOVEMENT ON THE PART OF FDLR ELEMENTS? ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Poloff attended the May 26 Kisangani meeting at which the GDRC and elements from FDLR-RUD and the RPR (Rassemblement du Peuple Rwandais) made public a document related to these armed groups' disarmament and repatriation or resettlement. The conference was principally ceremonial and was well attended by GDRC notables and members of the international community. The identities and affiliations of all those representing the armed groups, who appeared to number 25-30, were less clear. MONUC and GDRC representatives told us in advance that it would be primarily members of the RUD who would come to the conference, though a few FOCA members were reportedly present as well. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff attended the May 26 Kisangani meeting at which the GDRC and elements from FDLR-RUD and the RPR made public a document (copy to be e-mailed to AF/C) related to these armed groups' disarmament and repatriation or resettlement, previously worked out in meetings in Italy. The meeting was ceremonial, lasted approximately two hours, and featured principally speeches from representatives from the GDRC, the international community, and the armed groups hailing the agreement. ¶3. (SBU) The document, entitled "Roadmap for the disarmament of Rwandan armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo," outlines a number of notable milestones, including: -- A condemnation of the genocide in Rwanda and a demand that its perpetrators be brought to justice. -- Expressions of regret for the massive human rights violations inflicted on the Congolese people and a demand that perpetrators of these acts be brought to justice. -- Confirmation of willingness to disarm and return to Rwanda or relocate within the DRC. -- Return to Rwanda, however, is preconditioned on the basis of security guarantees to be worked out with Rwanda under the aegis of the international community. The document also notes that, for the moment, conditions for return to Rwanda are not yet right. -- A request for security to be provided by MONUC and the FARDC for those engaged in the process of disarmament; a request was also made for food, education for children, and appropriate sanitation to be provided. ¶4. (SBU) The roadmap notes that verification of relocation/welcome sites will take place within 5 days and the process of disarmament will begin in 10 days. The GDRC for its part rendered a statement reaffirming the will of the government to mobilize the means to conduct this program, and encouraged those partners involved with the Nairobi communique to increase the incentives for members of Rwandan armed groups to disarm and repatriate. ¶5. (SBU) The meeting was well attended by GDRC and international figures. Interior Minister Kalume represented President Kabila at the meeting; other GDRC notables in attendance included Defense Minister Chikez and Presidential Special Envoy Seraphin Ngwej. SRSG Doss was present; EU Special Representative Roeland van de Geer sent his political counselor Jean-Michel Dumont. Representatives from the embassies of France, Belgium, South Africa, Sweden, Italy, Russia, and China, and from the community of Sant'Egidio were in attendance as well. ¶6. (SBU) Less clear were the identities of the members of the FDLR in attendance, who appeared to number approximately 25-30. A few of their wives and children also came to the conference. The FDLR-RUD leaders Felicien Kanyamibwa and Jean-Marie Vianney Higiro were not obviously present (Note: Kanyamibwa signed the roadmap at the Rome meeting May 9 in the name of the "National Congress for Democracy" which appears to be a melding of the FDLR-RUD, the RPR, and perhaps other elements as well. End note) MONUC and GDRC representatives told us in advance that it would be primarily members of the RUD who would come to the conference, though a few FOCA members were reportedly present as well. ¶7. (SBU) Two representatives from the armed groups spoke at the conference, one in the name of the aforementioned National Congress for Democracy and the other seemingly in the name of the RUD military wing and the RPR. The former was Augustin Dukuze, who lives in Canada and who has previously been identified as a RUD spokesperson; the latter was introduced simply as "Jean-Michel." KINSHASA 00000463 002 OF 002 ¶8. (SBU) The speeches delivered consisted principally of laudatory words that the armed groups were willing to take this step towards disarmament and repatriation. Ambassador Ngwej noted pointedly that the DRC will facilitate this agreement without any concern to an inter-Rwandan dialogue, which he labeled an "absurd" conditionality. This did not stop "Jean-Michel" from making reference to the need for political change in Rwanda, though there was no apparent conditionality to his statement. He asked all fighters to join in this process. SRSG Doss noted that MONUC stands ready to support. Dumont spoke on behalf of Special Representative van de Geer and welcomed the armed groups' willingness to disarm. Minister Kalume called on the "extremists" to seize this one last chance for peace. The USG statement was read by a Congolese protocol representative. ¶9. (SBU) Comment: The timetable's projected dates for disarmament and transfer to relocation sites seem ambitious; MONUC representatives should be involved in working out these modalities and we will follow up on the status of the implementation. In previous meetings, GDRC representatives told us that this process should affect approximately 500 fighters plus dependents, for a total of around 3,000 FDLR members. While this will not solve the entire FDLR problem, as certain elements have publicly rejected this process, it could be a start and demonstrate the progress that political dialogue can affect. Embassy Kinshasa will also follow up to attempt to confirm the names of those representing the armed groups at the conference. On a final note, one of Ambassador Ngwej's staff came up to poloff after the U.S. statement was read and noted its "strong" tone. We hope the statement created a similar reaction among FDLR attendees at the Conference. End comment. GARVELINK